Mounting for rearview mirrors



I D. w. BARKLEY MOUNTING FOR REARVIEW MIRRORS April 3, 1951 R s "Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1948 09 JNVENTOR.

W Z z fwd/2a fi% 5 I .29456 6 duo 01,

ATTORNEYS P 1951 'D. w. BARKLEY 2,547,071

MOUNTING FOR REARVIEW MIRRORS Filed sept. 50, 1948 I5 Sheets- Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April 1951 D. w. BARKLEY 2,547,071

MOUNTING FOR REARVIEW MIRRORS Filed Sept. 30, 1948 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

229L456? wo Qe ATTORNEKS Patented Apr. 3, 1951 TTEs orrics MOUNTING roe assnvrsw masons Application September 30, 1948, Serial No. 52,094

15 Claims.

My invention relates. to improvements in rear view mirrors which are used in automobiles and more particularly to the mounting thereof.

The primary purpose in the use of a rear View automobile mirror is of course to provide the driver. with a satisfactory view ofthe rear road under A the various conditions of driving. Heretofore, rear View mirrors have had to be designed with refieotivities which gave a reasonably acceptable compromise for most drivers between glare elimination and visibility. Thus, lead sulfide mirrors, having a reflectivity of about 30% and which represent by far the greatest number of rear view mirrors in use today, are objected to. by many drivers 'as producing intolerable glare in night driving, while many others consider their reflectivity as too low for day driving.

For day driving a reflectivity of over 30%, preferably in the range of 40% to 30% isquite useful.

For-night driving, however, lower refiectivities are necessary to prevent glare. A mirror of reflectivity betweenapproximately 10% and 30%, preferably between 18% and 22%, has been found to provide ideal glare removal while providing excellent rear road visibility for most drivers.

The provision of a mirror for night driving with a single fixed reflectivity in this range, as in prior used rear View automobile mirrors, has represented a compromise which has been unsuitable for many drivers due to the great variation in the ability of human eyes to withstand glare and in theability to see at various light intensities. It has also been unsuitable for preventing glare from extremely high light intensity conditions.

A mirror providing a choice of two reflections of approximately 75% for day driving and ap proximately 4.25% for night driving has been liked by many drivers for the increased daytime reflectivity except in sun and snow glare conditions. However, it has been generally found that the approximately 4.25% refiectivityavailable for night driving while removing glare has been ofv little use sinceseeing ability was simultaneously removed.

In my copending application filed November 26, 1947, Serial No. 788,120, I have disclosed and claimed an improved type of prismatic rear view mirror device which provides the automobile driver with a personal selection of three or more intensities of images of the rear road conditions. Such a mirror permits the driver to make a choice of the images of various brightness, each image being of the common limited rear field of view so as to obtain maximum visibility with the minimum glare best suited to his particular personal eye lare tolerance and visual acuity under all the varying light intensities, present under modern night and day driving conditions.

The mirror device, which is the subject of my copending application, provides for abnormal driving conditions and for the wide variations in eyesensation of automobile drivers by providing at least three images, of the rear. road conditions which the driver may select as the rear lighting conditions and his eye sensitivity to glare and visibility vary. The choice of image intensity suitable to the driver is made by his selectively positioning the prismatic rear view mirror by angular adjustment to alternately locate the variimages of differing intensities of the same limited common field of rear view in the normal line of sight of the driver as he sits in driving po-- sition in the car. Thus, the rear view mirror may provide a choice of at least three image intensities which may be, for example, of over 30%, between 1il% and 30% approximately, and of over 4.5% up. to 12%" approximately of the incident light falling upon the rear view mirror and coming from the rear view of the road, etc.

ihis invention is primarily concerned with the mounting of the improved mirror of my copending application and has for its primary object the provision of a special mounting by which the" mirror may be angularly adjusted to predetermined positions to selectively locate any one of three different image intensities of the same lim-, ited common field of view in the normal line of sight of the driver.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a mounting for a rear view mirror embodying simple yet effective means by which the driver may angularly adjust the mirror to predetermined positions at will to selectively locate in the predetermined position of the drivers eyes the first, second and third images of the common 7 rear field view.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a mounting so constructed that the rear view mirror can be readily and conveniently tilted upwardly or downwardly by the driver within a controlled arc to bring any one of the three images "of various intensities into the line of vision of the driver and including means for insuring maintenance of the mirror in selected position.

A further object of theinvention is the provision of a mounting for a rear View mirror einbodying means enablingtilting movement of the mirror to any one of three positions by finger tip control to give the desired intensity of image and 3 for effectively locking the mirror in selected position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of cooperating spring and cam means for effectively preventing accidental displacement of the mirror after it has been moved to predetermined adjusted position while permitting it to be easily and quickly shifted to another position by the driver with a minimum of efiort and attention and without disturbing the initial adjustment of the mirror in relation to the driver.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the -same:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a mirror made from a wedge shaped piece of glass;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mirror and the mirror mounting means provided by this invention;

' Fig, 3 is a diagrammatic view showing how the mirror is used in an automobile;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the mirror showing how it provides a reflected image from the front mirror surfac visible to the driver at the point shown;

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing how a reflected image visible to the driver is formed by reflection of light from the rear mirror surface;

6 is a further similar view showing how a third reflected image is formed by reflection from the rear mirror surface by internal reflection within the prism formed by cooperating reflection from the front mirror surface;

Fig. '7 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the mirror and mirror mounting;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 of Fig.7;

Fig.9 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 7 but showing a modified arrangement of parts in which the mirror actuating lever is manipulated in lateral directions;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line ill|fi of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of another modified form of mirror mounting;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially on line i2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view showing a further modification of the operating elements of the mirror mounting;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a mounting similar to that shown in Fig. '7 but in which a different type of mirror actuating lever is employed;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially on line l5i5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view of a mounting similar to that shown in Fig. 9 but embodying a different type of mirror actuating lever; and

Fig. l? is a perspective view of the actuating lever employed in the structures illustrated in Figs. let to 16 inclusive.

As explained in detail in my above-noted copending application, the mirror comprises at least two mirror reflecting surfaces or reflective means associated with each other and arranged, one behind the other, with either their lower or upper edges in converging relationship and with the other edges more widely spaced apart. Thus, the mirror reflective means or coatings deposited upon front and rear supporting surfaces are arranged in a non-parallel relationship to provide a prism or a support of prism form. As a suitable support for the mirror reflective means or coatings, I may employ transparent bodies such as glass or plastic prisms or sheets of the same arranged in prism forms, the sheets being held in close and fixed or fastened angular relationship by a frame.

The angle between the two mirror reflective means or coatings, which form a front and a rear mirror disposed at such angle to each other, is preferably of the order of three and one-fourth degrees, although there may readily be used an angular separation between th two mirrors of from two to ten degrees or more. The smaller angular separations are preferable where solid prism supports are employed and the larger angular separations of close to ten degrees are preferable and give somewhat more convenient operation when a prism form composed of glass sheets is used.

By way of example, the mirror in Fig. 1 consists of a support of glass or other transparent material a which is wedge shaped in vertical cross section. The back surface of the support a carries a. highly reflective mirror film mean b which, as a coating on a plane sheet of glass, would have a reflectivity preferably ranging from 50% to 95% or more. The front surface of this support carries a mirror reflective film means 0.

The front reflective film means c is semi-transparent and of preferabl substantially no light absorption. It may be of a reflectivity of 10% to 30% and in such cases might be used in normal night driving and in daytime driving under snow and sun glare conditions. 01', the front reflective film means may be of higher reflectivity of up to an approximate maximum of in which case this front mirror of 30% to 70% substantially will be employed largely as a day driving mirror. The rear reflective film means b is preferably opaque, although it may also be semitransparent, but if so preferably of less transparency than film means 0. If the film means I) is transparent, it may or may not be backed with an opaque coating.

According to this invention, the mirror of Fig. l is carried by a substantiall rectangular housing or case Iii open at the front and in which opening the mirror is arranged and held against forward displacement by the peripheral flange ll of said case which is bent over the edges of the mirror as best shown in Fig. 7. To hold the mirror against rearward displacementthere is arranged within the case Ill a backing plate l2, the flanged peripheral edge l3 of which engages the back of the mirror. If desired, a protective sheet or layer of paper or other suitable material can be interposed between the back of the mirror and the flange is.

To provide for mountin the mirror in a vehicle so that it may be adjusted to properly position the, reflecting surfaces 27 and c for different drivers, the case It! is carried on the truncated ball 14 of the special tiltable mounting designated in its entirety by the numeral l5. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 7 and 8, the mounting comprises generally a horizontal mirror supporting arm 16 connected to or integral with and extending rearwardly from the ball i i and a depending mirror operating element or lever ll, said arm l6 and lever I! being pivotally carried in a relatively narrow block or body member is upon pivot pins l9 and 20 respectively. Upon swinging of the lever I! about its pivot 28, the arm It will be rocked upon pin [9 to effect a step by step angular casement S adjustment of the mirror either upwardly or downwardly'when the mirror is supported as. showninFig. 3 in a suitable position in the automobile, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

This stepwise angular adjustment functions to. permit the. driver to. selectively focus alternately to. his eyes the images. of different light intensities of; the limited common field view as indicated. by the various rays in Fig. 3, namely, R, S and T. where the. image is. incident as light upon the mirror asshown byline 12. By properly tilting the mirror, the lines R, S and T may be selectively brought to the level of the drivers eyes so that hewill see the image from the front mirror reflective film means or the image from the rear reflective fllm means In as modified by the light transmission of the front mirror reflective means, or a multiple reflected image arising from inter-- nal reflections within the prism As shown in Figs. 4, and 6, the light incident Thus,.the. incident. lightisfurther reduced by the.

loss of ray 2 before the internally reflected light. arrives back at. the rear mirror reflective means again and is reflected again at, point 6. Such reflection again exerts a reduction in intensity, and a further reduction in light intensity of the beam 3 occurs as some light is again reflected at, point I as the beam passes through the front mirror means.

More particularly, the ball I 4, carried by mirror supporting arm It, extends through an opening 2| in the case ill. and is. mounted on a spherical seat or hearing 22 formed in the backing plate I2 in alignment with opening 2 I. The ball is held in. the seat by a strap 23 having a central bearing portion 24 conforming to and engaging the ball,

I l. The metal strap is suitably fastened at its opposite ends to the backing plate I2 in a manner upon the mirror device, originating from the object I, is reflected as the several image beams I-, z; and 3. In each of the figures, beam I is a reflection directly from the front mirror means 0. This is shown as reflected to the drivers eyes in Fig. 4, but in Figs' and 6 it is reflected above the drivers eyes and is not visible to him. The beams 2 and 3 in Fig. are reflected below the drivers eyes so that he only.

In Fig. 5 the reflected beam 2 alone reaches th drivers eyes, and in Fig. 6 the mirror device has been shifted angularly further to bring reflected beam 3 into the driver's eyes. In 5 this same beam 3 is below the normal line of sight of the driver. The selective shifting indicated in Fig. 6' brings beam 3 only into the drivers eyes, and brings the other reflecied beams I and 2 above the normalline of sight of the driver. The vertical. line appearing in each of Figs. 4, 5 and serves; to indicate a relative degree of angular shifting of the prism form in those figures.

It will be noted in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 that the reflected beam I originates by reflection from the front mirror meansc, while the reflected beam 2 results from the first reflection from the rear mirror means b. Such latter beam, however, passes through the front mirror means 0' twice and is modified by the light transmission of such front mirror means. The incident light is decreased in intensity by the light reflection properties. of the front mirror means 0 and the absorp tion of light by such reflective means 0. Thus, the. incident light is r duced by the reflection of beam I- so that not all the incident light. reaches the rear reflective means 17. The reflection ability of the rear reflective means I) then determines the amount of light returned forwardly, but before the reflected beam issues from the prism form a further reflection occurs at point at by" the front mirror means. 'Thus, the beam 2 is -ees the reflected-beam I- 1 well known in the art. Normal positioning of the mirror may be obtained by swivel movement thereof about the truncated ball I l; however,

the surface pressure created by the metal strap.

23 in retaining said ball on the spherical seat 22 is suflicient to maintain the mirror in its initially adjusted position with relation to the driver.

Extending rearwardly from the flattened end of the truncated ball Hi, the mirror supporting arm I6 is received between the side walls 25 and 26 of the body member I5 and is pivoted intermediate its endupon the pivot pin it. The side walls of the body member areconnected together along their upper edges by a web 27. The arm I6: is provided at its inner end with a spherical boss or the like 28 extended from its lower surface, while formed in its upper surface opposite, boss 28 is a well or recess 29. engageable by the enlarged upper end 30 of actuating lever H, which constitutes a cam havingv formed in its upper edge the three grooves SI, 32 and 33 disposed radially at different distances; from the axis about which the lever swing as; defined by the pivot pin 20.

Theboss 28- on arm i6 is yieldably urged at all times into engagement with the upper edge of cam 36 by a spring 34 located in the well 29- in arm I5 and backed by a socket screw 35 threaded within a hole 36 formed in the web 2'5. Prefer;- ably, the screw 35 is provided with the usual slot 3-? so that it can be easily turned Within the hole 36 to vary the pressure of the spring 34 on arm I5.

The. grooves BI, 32 and 33 are so located in angular relation to each other that an equal movement of the lever 51 in either direction to displace the'groove 32 from boss 23 will position groove 3I or- 33 in engagement therewith. The

of a reduced intensity as compared to the incident beam.

The origin of beam 3 will be seen to be by internal reflection within the prism form by the cooperative action of the front mirror means and of the rear mirror reflective means. Thus, the incident beam after reduction in intensity by light reflected as ray I by the front mirror means c passes to the rear mirror reflective means and is reflected back, therefrom. As just explained above, this reflected ray passes out of the mirror as beam 2 but, in doing so is subject to partial reflection at; point 01, by the front mirror means.-

grooves comprise a gradually descending cam surface from groove 3| to groove 33 and are so,

formed in the enlarged end 30 of lever I? that, upon swinging of said lever, they produce rocking movements of the arm It to locate the mirror in either its extreme upper or lower position or; in an intermediate position to. obtain the, desired image intensity.

When it is desired to tilt the mirror downwardly to its extreme lowered position indicated'inFig, 4, the lever i7 is thrust away from the driver to the position indicated by the line 9 in Fig. '7, whereupon the image beam I will be reflected to the drivers eyes. As the boss 28 enters and is seated in groove 3i, it will have elevated the inner end of. arm I6 with a consequent lowering of the outer end thereof on which the mirror is carried.

When the mirror is to be tilted upwardly to its extreme upper position, the lever II is moved The boss 28 is in the opposite direction or toward the driver to the position indicated by the line it in Fig. 7, whereupon the boss 28 will seat in the groove 33, and by reason of the difierence in radial distances oi the grooves 3i and 33 from pivot pin 20, the inner end of arm I6 will descend while the outer end thereof will rise, with a resultant tilting upwardly of the mirror to the position indicated in Fig. 6, at which time the image beam 3 will be reflected to the drivers eyes.

Between its extreme upper and lower positions the mirroris adapted to assume an intermediate position as shown in full lines in Fig. '7, in which position the image beam 2 will be reflected to the drivers eyes as shown in Fig. 5. When in such position, the mirror will be held in place by means of the boss 23 seating in groove 32, the radial distance of groove 32 from pivot pin 29 being substantially midway those of grooves 3i and 33.

The rocking movements of the arm 56, caused by swinging of the lever H, are resisted by the spring 33. This influence of the spring is particularly pronounced during swinging of the lever I! to place any one of the grooves SI, 32 and 33 in engagement with the boss 23. Nevertheless, relatively little pressure is required to tilt the mirror against the action of the springpressed arm it. As soon as either the ridge 38 between grooves 3! and 32, or the corresponding ridge 39 between grooves 32 and 33, has passed the axial line extending through pivot pin 28 and spring 34, said spring will actually assist the tilting movement and literally snap the boss 28 into place. the driver swing the lever il back or forth and the mounting will automatically function to limit the movement of the mirror when it reaches the desired selected position and insure its maintenance in such position until again changed by the driver.

The body member i8 is provided with a threaded shank it by which the mounting may be fixedly secured in position in the automobile, although other types of securing means may of course be provided. In order to prevent any undesirable play or vibration between the lever 51 and body member it, there may be provided a spring washer il carried on pivot pin 2!! and interposed between said lever and one wall of said body member. I

The tilting of the mirror as above described to obtain the desired image intensity may also be effected by the modified arrangement of mirror supporting arm and mirror actuating lever illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein the lever is so mounted that it is responsive to lateral swinging movements. More particularly, the arm 42 is received within a recess "53 in the body member i l andis pivotally mounted at its inner end upon a transverse pivot pin 55. The arm 42 is provided in its lower surface and intermediate its ends with an arcuately. faced notch 45 selectively engageable in the three grooves 61, 4B and 48 formed in the enlarged upper end 51] of the actuating lever 5|.

The lever 5! is inserted upwardly through a slot 52 in the body member 44 and the upper end thereof projects into the recess 43 in said body member where it engages arm 32. The lever is mounted upon a pivot pin 53 which extends at right angles to the pivot pin 35 for the arm 52 so that the lever swings laterally relative to said arm. The pivot pin 53 is formed It is only necessary that I at the inner end of a screw 54 threaded in a hole 55 in the body member.

The grooves til, 48 and 49 in the upper end of lever 55 are so arranged as to produce tilting of the mirror from its extreme lower position (Fig. 4) through its intermediate position (Fig. 5) to its extreme upper position (Fig. 6), thereby obtaining the desired image intensities according to the direction in which the lever is swung. Thus, movement of the lever to the position indicated by the line 7' in Fig. 10 will locate the groove t? in the notch 38 of arm 42 and, since the radial distance of the groove d! from the pivot pin 53 is less than the radial distance of the intermediate groove 58, the arm 42 will be disposed so as to tilt the mirror to its extreme lower position as shown in Fig. 4 whereby the image beam I will be reflected to the drivers eyes.

Since the radial distance of the groove 49 from pivot pin 53 is greater than the distance of the groove 58, swinging of the lever to the position indicated by line 7c Fig. 10 will tilt the mirror to its extreme upper position at which time the image beam 3 will be reflected to the drivers eyes as shown in Fig. 6.

Between its extreme upper and lower positions, the mirror is adapted to assume an intermediate position as shown by the location of the lever 51 in full line in Fig. 10, in which position the image beam 2 will be reflected to the drivers eyes as shown in Fig. 5. When in such position, the mirror will he held in place by the arcua-tely surfaced notch ii: of the arm engaging in groove 48 of the lever.

During tilting of the mirror to predetermined selected position, the arm is held in engagement with the grooved end of the lever by a spring 56 so as to snap into engagement with the respective groove ll or 59 when the lever reaches the extremities of its swing in either direction and also to snap into the groove 48 as the lever passes midway between said extremities of movement. The spring 5%;- is received in a square notch 51 provided in the arm opposite the arcuate notch '36 and is carried in a hole 58 in the body member which is partially tapped as at 59 for the threaded plug 6! By proper adjustment of the plug 6!],

the pressure of said spring against the arm can be varied as desired.

In the two types of mountings described above, the actuating levers l! and El are pivoted within the body member, but an external lever arrange ment may be employed as in Figs. 11 and 12, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention. As shown therein, the actuating lever fii is keyed to the outer end of a horizontal shaft 62 which is journalled in the side walls 63 of the body member 6Q. Fixed to the shaft 52 and received in the recess 65 between the side Walls of the body member is a depending cam 66. Formed in the lower edge of said cam are the three grooves 8?, 63 and G8 rising from groove 6'1 to groove 59 to effect tilting of the mirror, upon swinging of lever 6|, to either its extreme upper or lower positions or to an intermediate position as described above to obtain the selected image intensity.

The mirror supporting arm H3 is pivoted intermediate its ends in the recess 55 in the body member upon a horizontal transverse pin H and is provided at its inner end with a boss 12 adapted to be received within the grooves of the cam 66. Th inner end ofarm "i8 is yieldably maintained in engagement with cam 65 by a spring 13, said spring being carried by a screw plug '14 threaded into a tapped hole 15 extending through the web 76 connecting the side walls of the body member. The pressure of the spring upon the arm may be varied by proper adjustment of the plug 14.

With this arrangement, the'mirror can also be easily tilted to'obtain the desired image intensity by swinging the lever 61 in the required direction. Thus, when the driver desires to re ceive the image beam l as in Fig. 4, the lever Si is swung from the phantom position Bid to the broken line I in Fig. 11 at which time the groove 5'! of cam 66 will be moved to receive the boss 12 on arm H! to allow upward movement of the inner end of the arm and consequent downward movement of said mirror.

Conversely, when the lever 'BI is swung to a position indicated by the broken line m, the groove 69 f the cam will be moved to receive the boss 12 of arm iii thereby forcing the inner end of said arm downwardly against the spring T3 at which time the outer end of the arm will rise to efiect tilting of the mirror so that the image beam '3 will be reflected to the drivers eyes as in Fig. 6.

In the intermediate position assumed by the mirror, between its extreme upper and lower positions, the boss 12 on arm 16 is received in the groove 63 as shown in full lines in Fig. 11, in which position the image beam 2 will be reflected to the drivers eyes as in Fig. 5.

InFig. 13 is illustrated a further modified form of mirror mounting indicated in its entirely by the numeral Ti, and in which the actuating lever I is disposed rearwardly of the supporting arm "I9. .As herein shown, the arm 15 is received in an opening extending through'the body member 8| and is mounted therein adjacent its forward end upon a transverse pin 82. The arm 19 is provided at its inner end with a turned down portion 33 formed with a boss 85 which is adapted for selective engagement with the forwardly directed grooves 85, 86 and 3*! formed in the cam 88 at the upper end of lever 18.

The cam 83 is also received in the opening 86 the body member and is pivoted upon a pin lever 18 is swung to the position n, the groove 85v will be moved to receive the boss 34 and cause rocking of the arm to tilt the mirror to the position in Fig. 4, "while movement of the lever in the opposite direction to position 0 will bring the groove 8! in position to receive the boss to tilt the mirror to the position in Fig 6. When the lever is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 13, the boss will be received in notch, 85 and the mirror maintained in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The modifications shown in Figs. 14 and 16 are substantially the same as shown in Figs. 7 and 9 respectively, the essential difference being that in Figs. 14 and 16, a smooth surfaced cam head #32 having a cam surface Q3 and at its opposite end with a handle portion '94. I

In Figs. lei and '15, the lever 9!. is pivoted between the side walls 95 of the body member 95 upon a .pin 91 with the cam surface 93 thereof in engagement with the boss 98 on supporting :arm

' 1 0 '99. The arm 99 is pivoted as at H36 in the body member and has its inner end yielda'bly maintained in engagement with the cam surface 93 by a spring EDI.

The cam surface 93 so shaped as to effect the desired tilting of the mirror to any one of its three positions upon swinging of the lever 91 in the same manner as the grooved levers described above. In order to locate the lever in desired adjusted position and to maintain it in such position, it is provided with a detent I02 which is engageable in radial notches J03 and I05 in the body member upon swinging of the lever to tilt the mirror respectively to its extreme lower position or extreme upper position.

Between its extreme upper and lower positions, the mirror is adapted to assume an intermediate position. when the detent is located in the notch IM. The notches Hi3, 1M and 105 are formed 'inone wall of the body member and positive entry of the detent therein "is efiected by a spring washer lilfi which is interposed between the opposite wall of said body member and the actuating lever.

In Fig. 16, the. lever Si is also used and is pivoted in the body member 10'! upon a pin Hi8. The smooth cam surface 93 at the upper end thereof engages the supporting arm I 09 pivoted at I Ill and urged into engagement with the cam surface-by a spring I l 'I. As in Fig. '9, "the lever 9| swings laterally with respect to the supporting arm to effect the desired tilting of the mirror as above described. The lever is relatively thinner than the Slot -I 12 in the body member through which is inserted to provide for a spring washer H 3 for urging the detent 1 0-2 into suitable notches provided in the 'body member upon swinging of the lever as in Fig. 1-4.

"While the mounting thus provides for adjustment of the mirror to give three'difierent light intensitiesof images of the rear road and trafiic conditions, it will be evident that this mounting maybe used -for supporting and adjusting'a two position mirror such as shown in the patent to W. H. Colbert, No. 2,897,947, dated April 9, 1946.

In use, the mirror is first adjusted upon the supporting ball I4 to the pfoper angular position for the driver of the automobile, after which the mirror is tilted upon the horizontal aXis defined by the pivot pin for the mirror supporting arm to selectively bring any one of the'light beams l, 2 or 3 to the-dr'ivers eyes. The tilting'of the mirror can be easily and quickly efiected by movement of the actuating lever in the proper direction with. the exercise of little or no care or attention on the part of the driver. Likewise, the tilting of the. mirror will in no-way affect the adjustment of the mirror on theball M to suit the particular driver.

As more fully disclosed in my copending application, the back mirror reflective means or coating b'maybe of any material having a high specular reflectivity of to 95% or more. Thus, silver and aluminum of reflectivity are found to be excellent for this purpose. By coating aluminum with a quarter wave length thickness coating of a low index material such as magnesium fluoride and a further quarter wave length thickness of a-high index material such as zinc sulfide or titanium dioxide, a multiple coating showing $5% or greater reflectivity may be secured and such a mu'ltiple coating may be used as a rear reflective means with advantage as higher reflectivity in the rear reflective means increases generally the brightness of the second, third, and

further image. I may also use magnesium, having a reflectivity of 73%; platinum having a reflectivity of 63%; iron having a reflectivity of 55%; chromium having a reflectivity of 55%; nickel having a reflectivity of 60%; and rhodium having a reflectivity of 75%. I may use other materials such as cobalt, iridium indium, antimony, molybdenum, palladium, cadmium, and other silvery appearing metals.

I may also use for my back reflective means or mirror coating b colored reflectors, such as gold of 60% to 80% reflectivity, or copper of 55% to 75% reflectivity. I may secure such variations in reflectivity value with these or the other metals already given by varying the thickness of such metallic film. I may choose to use a thin film of partially transparent gold backed by anopaque silver mirror. Further, I may also use semitransparent reflective layers as the mirror film I), which are colored by light interference effects as disclosed in the copending applications of William H. Colbert and Willard L. Morgan, Serial No. 646,875, filed February 11, 1946, now Patent No. 2,519,545, and Serial No. 646,876, flled February 11, 1946, now Patent No. 2,519,546; and as disclosed in U. S. Patents No. 2,394,533 and No. 2,430,452.

The use of a colored reflective rear surface reflective mirror means or coating 1) does not of course give any coloration to the front mirror reflection, but does control the color of the refleeting mirror means I). The color of the mirror image reflections coming from within the prism form and the general reflectivity intensity of such reflections may also be colored and affected by the use of a colored prism or of colored glass plates. Also, if the front surface mirror fllm c is colored by selective reflection or by interference effects, not only is the reflection from this surface colored but a color is imparted to the mirror reflection from film I), also by reason of the selective colored light transmission of this semi-transparent coating e. Thus, my mirror may not only give colored reflections but the several reflections in the different positions of use do not of necessity appear of similar color but are frequently of diiferent colors as well as of different reflectivities.

As suitable materials for the reflective coatings employed in forming the front reflective means, I may use, by way of example, a semi-transparent, substantially non-light, absorptive reflecting coating or coating means of or including as a layer a metallic oxide such as titanium dioxide, antimony tetraoxide or pentoxide, chromium sesquioxide, zirconium dioxide, tungsten trioxide, aluminum sesquioxide, beryllium oxide, stannic oxide, or magnesium aluniinate or spinel. There may also be used zirconium silicate or zircon. Such materials may be employed directly as single or as multiple coatings as is necessary to provide sufficient reflectivity as hereafter shown. The reflective properties of such coatings vary with the thickness ofsuch coatings and also vary further as light interference effects occur as the thickness is varied. multiple coatings which operate to give h h reflectivity, I may also use low refractive materials in combination with layers of other higher index materials, such suitable low index materials being magnesium fluoride, magnesium aluminum fluoride or cryolite, calcium fluoride, lithium fluoride, or silicon dioxide.

Preferably, these reflective coatings for the front reflective means are formed by thermal evaporation within a vacuum, although other methods of deposition may be used, and preferably they are subjected to a heat treatment and oxidation as described in a patent application of Arthur R. Weinrich, Serial No. 783,841, filed November 3, 1947, in which the thermally evaporaied coatings are heated in an oxygen containing atmosphere to reduce the light absorption of the thermally evaporated coating to a minimum. Coatings of the above metallic oxide materials may thus be, prepared of less than 2% light absorption an generally of less than 1%. By thermal evaporation alone, coatings of less than 5% light absorption may be prepared in certain cases.

It to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to with departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims. I claim: 1. in a lllOlll'I g for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means for at tachment to the mirror, means for pivotally mounting arm to said body member, an operating element also pivoted to said body member and including a cam portion at its upper end engaging said arm and a depending handle portion for swinging said operating element about its pivot to cause the cam portion to rock said arm about its pivot to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly.

2. In a mounting for a rear View mirror for automobiles, body member having means for attachment to the automobile, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means for attachment to the mirror, means for pivotally mounting said arm to said body member, an operating element also pivoted to said body member and including a cam portion at its upper end engaging said arm and a depending handle portion for swin ing said operating element about its pivot to cause the cam portion to rock said arm about its pivot to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, spring means disposed between the body member and supporting arm for yieldably maintaining said supporting arm and cam portion in engagementwith one another.

3. in mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having its inner end received within said opening and means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror, means for pivotally mounting said arm to said body member within opening, an operating element also pivoted in said body member and including a cam at its up er end engaging said arm and a depending handle portion projecting exteriorly of the body member for swinging said operating element about its pivot to cause the cam to rock said arm to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly.

In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having its inner end received within said opening and means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror, means for pivotally mounting said arm to said body member within said opening, an operating element also 13 ,ipivoted in said :body member and :including a cam :at its upperend engagingsaid arm and :a depending handle portionaproj ecting exteriorly of the body member for swinging-said operating ele- .-inent about its pivot to cause the cam to root;

said arm to tilt the'mirror upwardly or downwardly, and spring means carried by said body member and engaging the supporting arm tfor for vpivotally mounting the operating element within said opening, the inner edge of said cam engaging the inner end of the supporting .arm

:for rocking it about its pivot upon swinging or" said operating element to tilt the mirror lupwar '13 or downwardly.

16.;In amounting for a rear view mirror :for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at "its outer 'end :for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening ineans 'for pivotally mounting the arm intermediate its ends within said opening, an operating element having ta cam portion received within said opening and .a banidle portion projecting outwardly thereoi m'eans :for pivotally mounting the operating element within said opening, the inner edge of said earn engaging'theinner end of the supporting "arm for body member and engaging said :arm opposite :said cam for'maintaining it in yieldable engagement with the pain.

7. In a mounting for :a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to theautomob-ile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outerend ,for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening, means for pivotally mounting the arm intermediate its ends within said openin an operatin lement'having a cam portion received within said opening and a ham "die portion projecting outwardly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element within .said opening, the inner edge of said c'am being provided with a plurality of grooves-adapted 'for selective engagement with the inner end of the supporting arm for rocking it about its pivot upon swinging of said operating element to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, said grooves being disposed radially at different distances from the axis about which the operating element swings to efiect adjustment of the mirror to different angular positions.

8. In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening thereinfa substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end .received within said ripening, :means ifor pivotally mounting the arm intermediate :its ends within said opening, an operating element havme a .cam portion .received "within said opening and a handle portion projecting outwardly'thereof, means for fpivotally mounting the operating element within said opening, theLinner edge of said z'cam being provided with a plurality :of grooves adapted for selective engagement "with 'ing "it in yieldable engagement within "said (grooves.

9. In mounting for a rear view mirrorfor automobiles, a lhody member having means for attachment .to the automobile and provided-with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means-at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening, means for piv- -'o'tally mounting the arm intermediate its ends within said opening, an operating element having a cam portion received within said open-- ing and a handle portion projecting outwardly thereof, means for pivo'tally mounting the operating element within said opening, the inner edge of said cam constituting a smooth surface 'so shaped as to effect tilting of the mirror to a plurality of angular positions upon swinging of said operating element about its pivot.

10. 'In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile an'd'provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner 'end received within said opening, means for pivotally mounting the arm intermediate its ends within said opening, an operating element having a cam portion received within saidopening and a handle portion projecting outwardly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element within said opening, the inner edge of said cam constituting asmooth surface so shaped as to effect tilting of the mirror to a plurality of angular positions upon swinging of said 'operating element about its pivot, and interengaging means on "the operating element and body m mber-for locating the cam .in desired adiusted position and for yiel'dabiy maintaining it in such position.

ill. In. a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the'automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening, means ioripivotally mounting the arm at its inner end within said opening, an operating element having a cam received within said opening and a handle portion projecting exteriorly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element to swing about an axis extending at substantially right angles to the axis on which said arm is pivotally mounted, said cam engaging said arm intermediate its ends for rocking said arm, upon sWing- 1 5 ing of said operating element, to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly.

12. In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening, means for pivotally mounting the arm at its inner end within said opening, an operating element having a cam received Within said opening and a handle portion projecting exteriorly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element to swing about an axis extending at substantially right angles to the axis on which said arm is pivotally mounted,

said cam engaging said arm intermediate its ends for rocking said arm, upon swinging of said operating element, to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, the inner edge of said cam being provided with a plurality of grooves adapted for selective engagement with the supporting arm intermediate its ends for rocking it upon swinging of said operating element to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, said grooves being disposed radially at different distances from the axis about which the operating element swings to effect adjustment of the mirror to different angular positions.

13. In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening, means for pivotally mounting the arm at its inner end within said opening, an operating element having a cam received within said opening and a handle portion projecting exteriorly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element to swing about an axis extending at substantially right angles to the axis on which said arm is pivotally mounted, said cam en aging said arm intermediate its ends for rocking said arm, upon swinging of said operating element, to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, the inner edge of said cam being provided with a plurality of grooves adapted for selective engagement with the supporting arm intermediate its ends for rocking it upon swinging of said operating element to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, said grooves being disposed radially at different distances from the axis about which the operating element swings to efiect adjustment of the mirror to different angular positions, and spring means carried by said body member for yieldably maintaining said supporting arm and cam in engagement with one another.

14. In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end received within said opening, means for pivotally mounting the arm at its inner end within said opening, an operating element having a cam received within said opening and a handle portion projecting exteriorly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element to swing about an axis extending at substantially right angles to the axis on which said arm is pivotally mounted, said cam engaging said arm intermediate its ends for rocking said arm, upon swinging of said operating element, to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, the inner edge of said cam constituting a smooth surface so shaped as to effect tilting of the mirror to a plurality of angular positions upon swinging of said operating element about its pivot.

15. In a mounting for a rear view mirror for automobiles, a body member having means for attachment to the automobile and provided with an opening therein, a substantially horizontal supporting arm having means at its outer end for attachment to the mirror and its inner end re ceived within said opening, means for pivotally mounting the arm at its inner end within said opening, an operating element having a cam'received within said opening and a handle portion projecting exteriorly thereof, means for pivotally mounting the operating element to swing about an axis extending at substantially right angles to the axis on which said arm is pivotally mounted, said cam engaging said arm intermediate its ends for rocking said arm, upon swinging of said operating element, to tilt the mirror upwardly or downwardly, the inner edge of said cam constituting a smooth surface so shaped as to effect tilting of the mirror to a plurality of angular positions upon swinging of said operating element about its pivot, spring means carried by said body member for yieldably maintaining said supporting arm and cam in engagement with one another, and interengaging means on the operating element and body member for locating the cam in desired adjusted position and for yieldably maintaining it in such position.

DWIGHT W. BARKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or" this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 964,493 Coder July 19, 1910 1,602,003 Drake Oct. 5, 1926 1,750,450 Woodhead Mar. 11, 1930 2,410,171 Le Lande Oct. 29, 1946 

